Sparging device and method for adding a processing fluid to a foodstuff

ABSTRACT

A sparging device ( 10 ) includes a number of sparger or screen passages ( 14 ) each extending from a respective passage inlet to a respective passage outlet. The sparging device ( 10 ) further includes a fluid chamber ( 25 ) that defines a chamber area through which at least one of the sparger passages ( 14 ) extends. A fluid communication device ( 34 ) is associated with each sparger passage ( 14 ) extending through the fluid chamber ( 25 ) to enable fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the interior of the respective sparger passage. The sparging device ( 10 ) allows a processing fluid in the fluid chamber ( 25 ) to be added to a foodstuff pumped through the sparger passages ( 14 ). Multiple fluid chambers may be formed in the sparging device to facilitate the addition of multiple processing fluids to a foodstuff.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to food processing systems. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to devices and methods for adding aprocessing fluid to a foodstuff in a food processing system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many food processing operations require adding a processing fluidor other material to a foodstuff. The traditional method for addingmaterials to a foodstuff comprises placing the foodstuff together withthe material to be added in a suitable mixing vessel and then mixing thetwo materials together. This mixing process is well adapted for manyapplications, but may over-work the foodstuff and produce undesirableresults in some cases.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,795 discloses an apparatus and process foradding pH modifying materials to foodstuffs, particularly comminutedmeats. The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,795 applies the pHincreasing or pH decreasing material in gaseous form. Ammonia gas isgiven as a specific example of a pH increasing gas useful in the system,while carbon dioxide gas is listed as an example of a pH decreasing gasthat may used in the system. Modifying the pH of the foodstuff in theprocess described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,795 has been shown to reducemicrobe counts in the foodstuff and may have other benefits inprocessing the foodstuff.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,067 discloses system for adding ammonia tofinely comminuted meats. In this apparatus, the comminuted meat ispumped through a narrow conduit, a portion of which passes adjacent to achamber containing the ammonia. A number of small openings extend fromthe ammonia chamber to the interior of the conduit and provide fluidcommunication from the ammonia chamber to the conduit. This arrangementof a meat conduit, ammonia chamber, and openings from the chamber to theconduit may be referred to as a sparger or sparging device. The pressureis regulated in the ammonia chamber to cause the desired amount ofammonia to be “sparged” into the foodstuff, that is, to flow through thesmall fluid communication openings into the meat conduit and makecontact with the meat product.

[0005] In shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,067 the meat product and addedammonia is directed through a grinder or other similar device. Grindingor otherwise further comminuting the foodstuff after addition of ammoniaoperates to evenly distribute the ammonia throughout the comminutedmeat. This system of adding ammonia to comminuted meat and then furthercomminuting the meat has been shown to provide a substantially even pHincrease throughout the comminuted meat and allows significant pHincreases without leaving the meat with an ammonia odor.

[0006] The systems shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,871,795 and 6,142,067 workwell for adding a processing fluid to a foodstuff, especially comminutedmeats. However, it is desirable to provide alternative arrangements forquickly and uniformly adding various processing fluids to foodstuffs. Itis also desirable to provide an arrangement for adding several differentprocessing fluids to a foodstuff in rapid succession.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention includes a sparging device having a numberof sparger or screen passages each extending from a respective passageinlet to a respective passage outlet. The sparging device furtherincludes a fluid chamber that defines a chamber area through which atleast one, and preferably each, sparger passage extends. A fluidcommunication device is associated with each sparger passage extendingthrough the chamber area to enable fluid communication between the fluidchamber and the interior of the respective sparger passage.

[0008] The portion of the present sparging device defining the varioussparger passages and fluid chamber may be configured as a screen such asa grinder screen or grinder plate used in a foodstuff grinding device.In this configuration, the inlet or first side of the portion of thesparging device containing the sparger passages may include a cuttingsurface over which a suitable cutting or scraping blade passesperiodically. The sparging device may include an inlet chamber at thisinlet side of the device from which a foodstuff may be forced into andthrough the various sparger passages. In one form of the invention, apressure auger may apply pressure to the foodstuff in the inlet chamberto forced the material into the sparger passages, and a cutting blademay be adapted to rotate with the pressure auger to provide the desiredcutting action at the inlet end of the sparger passages.

[0009] A sparging device within the scope of the present invention maybe configured with two or more separate fluid chambers defined in thesparger body. Each separate fluid chamber may include a separate fluidcommunication device with each sparger passage. The different fluidchambers may be used to add different processing fluids to the foodstuffas it flows through the sparger passages. Including multiple fluidchambers in the sparging device according to the invention allowsdifferent processing fluids to be quickly and efficiently added to thefoodstuff in rapid succession.

[0010] The sparging screen, that is, the portion of the sparging devicedefining the sparger passages, may be made up of two or more differentcomponents which are bolted or otherwise connected together to definethe fluid chamber or chambers of the device. Each component of thisarrangement will include a number of openings with each openinggenerally defining a portion of each sparger passage. These openingsthrough the separate components generally align when the components areconnected together. Also, where the sparging device according to theinvention includes a cutting blade acting at the inlet end of thesparger passages, the device may include a separate cutting platecomponent. This cutting plate component also includes a number ofopenings aligning with the openings of the other components.

[0011] In the preferred form of the invention, a separate sleeve ofmaterial may be sandwiched between two adjacent components of thesparger or screen body to form a portion of the sparger passage throughthe components. The fluid communication device may be included in eachsleeve, and may include a number of openings extending transverselythrough the sleeve material. In one preferred form of the invention,each sleeve includes one or more areas of porous and permeable materialthrough which the processing fluid may pass from the respective fluidchamber into the interior of the fluid passage defined by the sleeve.

[0012] The method according to the invention includes directing thefoodstuff through a number of the sparger passages from the inlet end ofthe passage to the outlet end of the passage. A first processing fluidis applied to the foodstuff at a first area of each sparger passage anda second fluid is applied to the foodstuff at a second area of eachsparger passage. The method may also include the step of periodicallymoving a cutting element over a cutting surface associated with eachinlet end of each respective sparger passage.

[0013] The sparging device according to the present invention allows oneor more processing fluids to be quickly and efficiently added to thefoodstuff being processed. Applying the processing fluids through fluidcommunication devices associated with a number of separate spargerpassages allows the processing fluid to be added evenly throughout thefoodstuff as the foodstuff passes through the sparging device. This mayeliminate the need for a separate mixing or comminuting step downstreamfrom the sparging device.

[0014] These and other objects, advantages, and features of theinvention will be apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a right end view of a sparging screen embodying theprinciples of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a right end view of a sparging device embodying theprinciples of the invention having a multiple stage sparging screen.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.3, showing one of the sparger sleeves removed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, a sparging screen 10 embodying theprinciples of the invention includes a screen body made up of a first orinlet side component 11 and a second or outlet side component 12. Anumber of screen passages, each shown generally by reference numeral 14,extend through the sparging screen body from a first side of the screenbody 17 to a second side 18 of the screen body. As shown best in FIG. 1,a number of screen passages 14 are spaced apart across the entire areaof the disk-shaped screen body. The illustrated arrangement of screenpassages 14 includes an outer set of passages shown generally atreference numeral 20 and an inner set of passages shown at referencenumeral 21. Each set 20 and 21 is made up of a number of pairs 22 ofgenerally radially aligned screen passages 14, with each pair at adifferent angular orientation about a center point 23 of the screenbody.

[0020] As shown best in FIG. 2, sparging screen 10 also includes a fluidchamber 25 formed within the screen body. In this form of the invention,fluid chamber 25 is defined between the opposing surfaces of first sidecomponent 11 and second side component 12. Fluid chamber 25 may beformed between the two components 11 and 12 by areas machined orotherwise formed in one or both of the opposing surfaces. FIG. 1 showsthat fluid chamber 25 includes an inner ring 27 associated with innerscreen passage set 21 and an outer ring 28 associated with outer screenpassage set 20. Both the inner ring 27 and outer ring 28 are connectedto a feed passage 30 formed in first side component 11 and terminatingat an inlet port 31 formed in the first side component. Inlet port 31comprises a fitting for connecting with a suitable processing fluidsupply conduit (not shown).

[0021] The sparging screen 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a fluidcommunication device associated with each screen passage 14. This fluidcommunication device is best shown in the section view of FIG. 2 andcomprises a cylindrical sleeve 34 captured between first side component11 and second side component 12. The sides of the respective sleeve 34separate the area of fluid chamber 25 from the area of the respectivescreen passage. Thus, each sleeve 34 actually defines a central portionof the respective screen passage 14, with the remainder of therespective screen passage being defined by an opening 37 formed in firstside component 11 and an opening 38 formed in second side component 12.In some forms of the invention the material making up sleeve 34 mayinclude small openings extending transversely from the outer surface ofthe cylindrical shape to the inner surface. Other forms of the inventionmay utilize sleeves 34 made up of a porous and permeable material. Ineither case, the openings in each sleeve 34 provide fluid communicationfrom fluid chamber 25 to the respective screen passage 14.

[0022] The two side components 11 and 12 of screen 10 shown in FIG. 2may be held together in any suitable fashion in a sparging deviceembodying the principles of the present invention. For example, the twoside components 11 and 12 may be sandwiched between flanges (not shown)in a sparging device or may otherwise be bolted together. Theillustrated disk-shaped screen 10 made up of side components 11 and 12is especially adapted to be used as a grinder plate in a grinder device.Thus, screen 10 includes a central opening 40 for accommodating aspindle associated with the grinding device.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 a multiple-stage sparging device 50embodying the principles of the invention includes a sparger body orscreen body 51 having multiple fluid chambers for adding differentprocessing fluids to a foodstuff passing through sparger or screenpassages 54 in the sparger body. Referring particularly to FIG. 4, thisform of the invention includes two different fluid chambers, a firstfluid chamber indicated generally at reference numeral 57 and a secondfluid chamber indicated generally at reference numeral 58. Spargerdevice body 51 is connected to an inlet chamber 60 through whichfoodstuff may be introduced to the various sparger passages 54 andforced through the passages.

[0024] In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, sparger body51 includes an inlet side component 62, an intermediate component 63,and an outlet side component 64. Intermediate component 63 is sandwichedbetween inlet side component 62 and outlet side component 64. Firstfluid chamber 57 is defined between the facing surfaces of inlet sidecomponent 62 and intermediate component 63, while second fluid chamber58 is defined between the facing surfaces of intermediate component 63and outlet side component 64. Sparger screen body 51 in this form of theinvention also includes a scraper plate 65 interposed between inlet sidecomponent 62 and inlet chamber 60. This scraper plate 65 provides asurface against which a scraper blade or grinder blade may work as willbe described further below.

[0025] It will be appreciated especially from the section view of FIG. 4that inlet side component 62, intermediate component 63, outlet sidecomponent 64, and scraper plate 65 each include transverse openings thatalign to either make up part of the respective sparger passage 54 ormake room for the respective sparger passage. In particular, scraperplate 65 includes transverse openings 67, inlet side component includesopenings 68, intermediate component includes openings 69, and outletside component includes openings 70. The bulk of each sparger passage 54in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is defined by asleeve or insert 72 captured in the sparger body 51 between scraperplate 65 and outlet component 64. Each sleeve 72 fits in a recessdefined by openings 68, 69, and 70. It will be noted in FIG. 4 that oneof the sleeves is omitted from the drawing to provide a convenient placeto label openings 68, 69, and 70. Of course, each set of alignedopenings would receive a respective sleeve 72 in an operational device.

[0026] The particular sleeve 72 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a singlecomponent having a generally uniform cylindrical inner surface 73 formedthrough solid material sections 74, 75, and 76, and two porous andpermeable material sections 77 and 78. Porous and permeable materialsection 77 aligns with first fluid chamber 57 while porous and permeablematerial section 78 aligns with second fluid chamber 58. Thus, theporous and permeable material 77 provides a fluid communication devicefor communicating fluid from fluid chamber 57 to sparger passage 54 andporous and permeable material 78 provides a fluid communication devicefor communicating fluid from second fluid chamber 58 to the spargerpassage. As with the sleeve 34 shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2,the fluid communication device in this multiple-stage form of theinvention may alternatively comprise small openings drilled or otherwiseformed through the sleeve material from the outside surface of thecylindrical shape to the inside surface.

[0027] Each fluid chamber 57 and 58 formed in sparger body 51 may beused to add a different processing fluid to the foodstuff as thefoodstuff is forced through sparger passages 54. Thus, each fluidchamber 57 and 58 is associated with a different processing fluid inletor feed structure for feeding a desired processing fluid into therespective fluid chamber. The feed structures shown in FIG. 4 include afirst inlet passage 81 associated with first fluid chamber 57 and asecond inlet passage 82 associated with second fluid chamber 58. Firstinlet passage 81 extends through inlet side component 62 from a fitting83 formed in an exterior surface of the inlet side component to aninterior surface defining a portion of first fluid chamber 57.Similarly, second inlet passage 82 extends through outlet side component64 from an exterior fitting 84 to an interior surface defining a portionof second fluid chamber 58.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, inlet chamber 60 is in communication with afoodstuff inlet port 86 through which foodstuff may be introduced intothe inlet chamber. A pressure auger 88 may be associated with inletchamber 60. Auger 88 is driven about an auger axis 89 by a suitabledriving arrangement (not shown) to force the foodstuff from the inletchamber into sparger passages 54. Also, inlet chamber 60 may house ascraper blade assembly 90 mounted at the end of auger 88 and adapted torotate with the auger. This scraper blade assembly 90 may includeseveral generally radially extending blades including cutting elements91 which periodically pass over scraper plate openings 67 to severmaterial against the entrance edge of these openings. This cuttingaction is analogous to the cutting action at the plate of a meatgrinding device.

[0029] Although the forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4are preferred forms of the invention, those skilled in the art willappreciated that many variations in these devices are possible withinthe scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanyingclaims. For example, a sparging device embodying the principles of theinvention may or may not include cutting elements for scraping an inletsurface to the sparger passages. In particular, a finely groundfoodstuff may not require any cutting action at the inlet to the spargerpassages. Also, numerous different arrangements other than an auger maybe used to force the foodstuff through the sparger passages.

[0030] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many differentarrangements may be used to connect the various components of the screenbody. The components may be sandwiched between flanges formed on othercomponents, or the components may themselves include bolt holes toaccommodate bolts or other connectors for connecting the componentstogether in the positions illustrated particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4.Many different sealing arrangements may also be used to seal between thevarious facing surfaces of a screen body embodying the principles of theinvention. For example, FIG. 4 shows O-rings 92 providing a seal betweenthe facing surfaces of inlet side component 62, intermediate component63, outlet side component 64, and scraper plate 65. FIG. 4 also showsO-rings 93 associated with the solid material sections of sleeves 72.These sealing arrangements are shown only for purposes of example andare not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

[0031] The sparger or screen passages 14 and 54 shown in the twoillustrated embodiments of the invention are preferably relatively smallin diameter. For example, each passage may have a diameter of aroundone-half inch or less, although larger diameters are possible within thescope of the invention. The use of relatively small diameter spargerpassages facilitates better contact between the processing fluid and thefoodstuff passing through the sparger passages. Also, length of theareas provided for processing fluid communication to the spargerpassages may vary widely within the scope of the invention. FIG. 2, forexample shows a relatively short sleeve 34, while the porous andpermeable sections 77 and 78 are relatively long. Generally, the longerthe area provided for fluid communication between the respective chamberand the sparger passage, the more processing fluid that can be spargedinto the foodstuff.

[0032] The above described preferred embodiments are intended toillustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scopeof the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to thesepreferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the following claims.

1. A sparging screen including: (a) a number of screen passagesextending transversely through a screen body from a first side of thescreen body to a second side of the screen body; (b) a first fluidchamber within the screen body; and (c) a first fluid communicationdevice positioned in the screen body between the first fluid chamber anda respective one of the screen passages at a location between the firstside of the screen body and the second side of the screen body, thefirst fluid communication device providing fluid communication from thefirst fluid chamber to the area defined by the respective screenpassage.
 2. The sparging screen of claim 1 further including a fluidinlet passage formed in the screen body and extending from an exteriorsurface of the screen body to the first fluid chamber.
 3. The spargingscreen of claim 1 wherein the screen body includes a first sidecomponent and a second side component, the first side componentincluding a first portion of each screen passage and the second sidecomponent including a second portion of each screen passage, the firstside component aligning with the second side component so that the firstportion of each respective screen passage aligns with the second portionof each screen passage.
 4. The sparging screen of claim 3 wherein thefirst fluid chamber is formed at an interface between the first sidecomponent and the second side component.
 5. The sparging screen of claim4 wherein the first fluid communication device comprises a section ofporous and permeable material interposed between the respective screenpassage and the first fluid chamber.
 6. The sparging screen of claim 4wherein the first fluid communication device includes at least onesparging passage extending from the first fluid chamber to therespective screen passage.
 7. The sparging screen of claim 1 furtherincluding: (a) a second fluid chamber within the screen body separatefrom the first fluid chamber; and (b) a second fluid communicationdevice positioned in the screen body between the second fluid chamberand the respective one of the screen passages at a location between thefirst side of the screen body and the second side of the screen body,the second fluid communication device providing fluid communication fromthe second fluid chamber to the area defined by the respective screenpassage.
 8. The sparging screen of claim 1 wherein: (a) the first sideof the screen body is substantially circular in shape and the screenpassages are spaced apart across the first side of the screen body; and(b) the sparging screen includes for each screen passage a respectivefirst fluid communication device positioned in the screen body betweenthe first fluid chamber and the respective screen passage at a locationbetween the first side of the screen body and the second side of thescreen body, each first fluid communication device providing fluidcommunication from the first fluid chamber to the area defined by therespective screen passage.
 9. A sparging device including: (a) an inletchamber; (b) a number of sparger passages, each sparger passageextending from a respective passage inlet in communication with theinlet chamber to a respective passage outlet; (c) a first fluid chamberdefining a first chamber area through which at least one respectivesparger passage extends; and (d) a first fluid communication deviceassociated with each sparger passage extending through the first chamberarea, the respective first fluid communication device enabling fluidcommunication between the first fluid chamber and an interior of therespective sparger passage.
 10. The sparging device of claim 9 furtherincluding: (a) a second fluid chamber defining a second chamber areathrough which at least one respective sparger passage extends, thesecond chamber area being separate from the first chamber area; and (b)a second fluid communication device associated with each sparger passageextending through the second chamber area, the respective second fluidcommunication device enabling fluid communication between the secondfluid chamber and an interior of the respective sparger passage.
 11. Thesparging device of claim 10 further including: (a) an inlet sidecomponent having a number of openings formed therein; (b) anintermediate component having a number of openings formed therein, theintermediate component openings aligning with the openings formed in theinlet side component when the intermediate component is placed with theinlet side component in an operating position; and (c) an outlet sidecomponent having a number of openings formed therein, the outlet sidecomponent openings aligning with the openings formed in the intermediatecomponent when the intermediate component is placed with the outlet sidecomponent in an operating position, and (d) wherein the first fluidchamber is defined at an interface between the inlet side component andthe intermediate component, and the second fluid chamber is defined atan interface between the intermediate component and the outlet sidecomponent.
 12. The sparging device of claim 11 wherein each spargerpassage is defined by a respective sparger sleeve mounted in arespective sleeve receiving opening, each sleeve receiving opening beingmade up of a respective inlet side component opening, a respectiveintermediate component opening, and a respective outlet side componentopening.
 13. The sparging device of claim 12 wherein each first fluidcommunication device associated with a respective sparger passage andeach second fluid communication device associated with a respectivesparger passage is formed in the respective sparger sleeve.
 14. Thesparging device of claim 13 wherein each sparger sleeve includes: (a) afirst porous and permeable material section aligning with the firstfluid chamber; and (b) a second porous and permeable material sectionaligning with the second fluid chamber.
 15. The sparging device of claim9 further including a pressure application device associated with theinlet chamber for forcing material from the inlet chamber through thesparger passages.
 16. The sparging device of claim 9 further including;(a) a scraper plate adjacent to the inlet chamber, the scraper platehaving a number of plate openings, each plate opening aligning with adifferent one of the sparger passages; and (b) a scraper blade mountedin the inlet chamber in position to scape across plate openings of thescraper plate to sever material between a blade edge associated with thescraper blade and a respective scraper plate opening edge associatedwith each scraper plate opening.
 17. A method for adding a fluid to afoodstuff, the method including the steps of: (a) directing thefoodstuff through a number of sparger passages from an inlet end of eachrespective passage to an outlet end of each respective passage; (b)applying a first fluid to the foodstuff in two or more sparger passagesat a point between the inlet end and outlet end of the respectivesparger passages; and (c) applying a second fluid to the foodstuff intwo or more sparger passages at a point between the inlet end and outletend of the respective sparger passages.
 18. The method of claim 17wherein the step of directing the foodstuff through the sparger passagesincludes forcing the foodstuff into the inlet ends of the respectivesparger passages with an auger.
 19. The method of claim 17 furtherincluding the step of periodically moving a cutting element over acutting surface associated with the inlet end of each respective spargerpassage.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of periodicallymoving the cutting element over the cutting surface is performed with ablade connected to an auger.
 21. The method of claim 17 wherein thefirst fluid and the second fluid are each applied to the foodstuffthrough a respective porous and permeable material making up a portionof the respective sparger passage.
 22. The method of claim 17 whereinthe first fluid and the second fluid are each applied to the foodstuffthrough a different set of transverse openings formed in the respectivesparger passage.
 23. The method of claim 17 wherein the first fluid andsecond fluid are applied to the foodstuff in the same respective spargerpassages.